Fluid-pressure regulator.



Patanted Feb. 27. I900.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1899.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modem TNE noams pzrzgzs ca, FNOTO-LITNO WASNINGTON, D. c.

No. 644,406. Patented Feb. 27, 190 0,

' 8. E. CRAWFORD.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR. (Application flled Aug. 3, 1899.) (No Model.)-3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Y -1 NORRIS PETERS co, PHOTQL'ITHQ, msumorom n. c.

No. 644,406. Patented Feb. 27, I900.

s. E. CRAWFORD.

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets8heet 3.

Unwrap STATES PATENT FLUID-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,406, dated February27, 1900.

Application filed August 3, 1899.

T aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LSAMUEL E. CRAWFORD, a resident of Avalon, in thecounty of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Fluid-Pressure Regulators; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to fluid-pressure regulators for use with gas andother fluids.

One object of my invention is to provide such a form of a fluid-pressureregulator that the pressure-regulating valve will eliminate variationsof delivered. pressure, which are due in devices in common or generaluse to the friction of the operating parts or to an unbalanced conditionof the valve.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple means ofdelivering the reduced or regulated volume of fluid through thegoverning-diaphragm of the regulator to a centrally-located dischargeopening or pipe at the top of the regulator without interfering with theaction of said diaphragm.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel arrangement,construction, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specificallyset forth and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains toconstruct and use the fluid-pressure regulator, I will describe the samemore fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1is a side View of my improved fluid-pressure regulator. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of-the same, showing the valve parts intheir normal positions. Fig. 3 is atop or plan View with the casin gremoved and valve connections and showing the val veseat. Fig. 4 is alike view showing the valve connections in position. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of another form of regulator, showing some of theparts in elevation and the parts in their normal positions. Fig. 6 is atop or plan view of Fig. 5 with the upper casing and flexible stemremoved. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a regulator made in accordancewith my invention and showing the valve and the counteracting diaphragmmounted on a common stem with the supply and discharge openings at oneside of the Serial N0.'725,99l. (No model.)

regulator in a vertical line with each other. Fig. 8 is a like viewshowing the supply and discharge openings reversed from that shown inFig. 7, and Fig. 9 is a like view showing the supply and dischargeopenings at the bottom of the regulator in a horizontal line.

Like numerals herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of thedrawings.

My improved fluid-pressure regulator is shown at 1 and is provided withthe baseplate 2, to which is secured by screw-bolts 2 the casing 3 forforming the outlet-chamber 3 and inclosing the different parts of theregulator. Extending below the base-plate 2 and formed as part thereofare the inlet and outlet ports 4 and 5, which are divided by thepartition-wall 6 and have the supply and outlet pipes 7 and 8 connectedthereto. Communicating with theinlet-port 4, through the base-plate 2,is the valve-opening 9, which is provided with the valve-seat 9 at theupper end thereof for seating a valve 10, mounted on one end of a lever11, pivoted at 12 in the standards 12, formed on the base -plate 2. Theopposite end of the lever 11 terminates in a depending projection 11,and a pressure-plate 13 is secured to the lever 11 between theprojection 11 and the standards 12, which is adapted to engage with adiaphragm 14 fitting over an opening 14 in the base-plate 2, preferablylocated equally distant from the pivotal point 12' of the lever 11 inthe standards 12 as the valve-opening 9' for the valve and formed of thesame area or diameter as the opening 9, although the diaphragm 14,covering the opening 14, can be formed at a greater distance from thepivotal point 12 than the opening 9' and the size of these openingsvaried, if desired, and it is also obvious that the pressure-plate 13may be made in a dilferent form, varying to. suit the efiective area ofvalve 10 in its various positions above the valve-seat 9. Pivoted at 15to the lever 11 above the pressure-plate 13 is the diaphragm supportingplate 15, upon which rests a flexible diaphragm 16, which extends acrossthe outlet-chamber 3 and is secured to the casing 3 by the ring 16. Athin plate 17, having a boss 17 thereon, fits on top of the diaphragm16, through which boss 17 is secured a screw-bolt 18, which extends intothe supporting-plate 15 through the diaphragm 16 and plate 17 forholding these parts together and for allowing the supporting-plate togive weight to the diaphragm 16. The diaphragm 16 acts to form thedash-pot or air-chamber 19 within the casing 3 above the outlet-chamber3, and an opening is formed in the top of the casing 3', which is closedby a plate 21, fitting over the same and secured to the casing 3 bybolts 21, for communicating with the air-chamber 19 and allowing thesecuring and removal of the bolt 18 and connecting parts when desired.An air-vent 221s formed in the top of the casing 3 for communicatingwith the atmosphere from the air-chamber 19, and an outlet-opening 23 isformed in the base-plate 2 for communicating with the outlet-chamber 3and the outlet-port 5.

The use and operation of my improved fluid-pressure regulator are asfollows: The gas or other fluid under pressure will pass from thesupply-pipe 7 into the inlet-port 4E and up against the valve 1.0, whichwill cause the valve 10 to rise and allow the gas to pass up through theopening 9 around the valve 10 and into the outlet-chamber 3 to fill thesame under the diaphragm 16. The diaphragm 14 across the opening 14 isexposed to the same pressure of the gas in the inlet-port 4E from thesupply-pipe '7 as the face of the valve 10 over the opening 9, and theupper side of the pressure-plate 13 and valve 10 are exposed to thecommon pressure of the gas within the outletchamber 3, so that anyinitial or sudden introduction of the gas within the inlet-port 4 whenthe regulator is at rest will raise the diaphragm 14 against thepressureplate 13 and cause this end of the lever 11 to rise by means ofits pivot 12 in the standards l2 and the opposite end and valve 10 tolower or drop down onto the valve-seat 9 and throttle or check the gasentering the outletchamber 3 through the opening 9' from the inlet port4: and supply pipe '7, thereafter maintaining an equilibrium between thepressure-plate 13 and valve 10. The increased pressure of the gas underthe diaphragm 16 will cause it to float at its weighted pressure and,being connected to the lever 11, compels the valve 10 to sensitivelyrespond to the slightest impulse of the diaphragm 16, thus maintainingunder said diaphragm a sensitively-eonstant pressure without regard tothe variations of intlowing pressures from the supply-pipe 7. Theair-vent 22, opening into the dasl1-pot or air-chamber 19, will allowthe diaphragm 16 to be raised and lowered freely without chattering, andthe gas in the outlet-chamber 3 will pass therefrom down through theoutlet-opening 23 into the outletport 5, and thence through theoutlet--pipe 8 to the point of consumption.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated my improved fluid-pressu reregulator for use where it is desired to pass the gas orother fluid froman inlet-pipe located directly under and central to theregulatortoadischarge-pipelocated centrally at the top of the regulatorwithout interfering with the sensitive action of the diaphragm-as, forinstance, in a street-lamp or in any cases where horizontal orrightangle connections cannot be used conveniently. In this case the endof the lever 11 opposite the valve 10 is connected by a link 24 toanother lever 24., which is pivoted at one end 25 to a standard 25, andits opposite end is pivotally connected at 26' to the lower end of avertical hollow stem 26, which extends up through the plates 15 and 17and diaphragm 1G and is secured around the same by jam-nuts 27 and 27,engaging with an exteriorly-tln'eaded surface 28 on the hollow stem 26.The upper end of the hollow stem 26 passes through an auxiliarydiaphragm 29, located within and extending across the upper part of theregulator, and is held thereto by jam-nuts 30 30,fitting on each side ofthe diaphragm 29 and around the threaded surface 28 on the hollow stem26. The gas or other fluid in this device enters the supplypipe 7 andstrikes directly against the pressure-diaphragm 1-:l-, which extendsover the opening for the supply pipe and has the pressure plate or post13 resting against the upper side thereof. The post 13 fits under andagainst the lever 11 and the gas enters the inlet-port 4, passes upthrough the oponing 0 around the valve 10 into the outletchamber 3, andthence enters the bottom of and passes up through the hollow stem 26 andthence out of the upper end thereof through the discharge or outlet pipe8 at the upper end of the regulator to the place of consumption.

In Fig. 7 the fluid-pressure regulator is illustrated in connectionwhere it is desired to use the supply-pipe entering the top and thedischarge or outlet pipe directly under the supply-pipe in a verticalline and at one side of the regulator. In Fig. Sthe positions of thesupply and discharge pipes are reversed by having the supply-pipe at thebottom and the discharge-pipe at the top of the regulator in a verticalline and at one side thereof. In Fig. 9 the supply and discharge pipesare located in a horizontal line, and in all these views, Figs. 7, 8,and 9, the pressureplate 13 over the diaphragm l t is secured on the endof a common stem 31, which extends up through the valve 10, the valvebeing secured thereto. The stem 31 extends up and is pivoted at itsupper end 31 to the valve end of the lever 11.

Various modifications other than those illustrated and described of theconstruction and design of the various parts of the casing and parts ofthe regulator may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of myinvention or sacrificing any of its advatages.

It will thus be seen that by the construction of my improvedfluid-pressure regulator it enables the use of regulators of smalldiameter and shorter levers, therefore making the same more compact andconsequently much simpler and cheaper, so that a greater range ofpressure can be handled with a much smaller apparatus than is ordinarilyused. The advantages of this construction of regulator are that byreason of the direct application of an exact ratio of counteractingforces to internally-located parts and with no intervening friction such as external packed stems, pistons, dad-as well as uncertain factors,such as varying spring tensions, there is secured a higher degree ofsensitiveness, especially when delivering at low pressure, than by theuse of the ordinary regulators. It will also be seen that any variationsof inflowing pressure against the face of the valve will becounterbalanced by a like pressure on a like face pressing oppositively,and it will further be seen that the fluid can be delivered in a reducedor regulated form through the.

discharge pipes connected therewith, a'flexi ble or yielding partitionor diaphragm within said case a valve within said case over the passagefrom the supply-pipe opening with or in the direction of the flow andconnected to said partition or diaphragm, and flexible counteractingmeans within said case adapted to be connected to said partition ordiaphragm to balance the valve and equal the pressure against the valvewhen acted upon by the same pressure.

2. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosin g casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow and connected to said partition 'or diaphragm, andflexible counteracting means within said case adapted to be connected tosaid partition or diaphragm to balance the valve and equal the pressureagainst the valve when acted upon in the opposite direction by the samepressure.

3. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow and connected to said partition or diaphragm, anda flexible or yielding counteracting-diaphragm within said case adaptedto be connected to said partition or diaphragm to balance said valve andequal the pressure against the valve when acted upon by the samepressure.

4. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow and connected to said partition or diaphragm, anda flexible or yielding counteractirig-diaphragm within said case oversaid supply-passage adapted to be connected to said partition ordiaphragm to balance said valve and be acted upon inthe oppositedirection by the same pressure as that which acts on the valve.

5. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow, a lever fulcrumed in said case and connected tosaid valve and partition or diaphragm, a flexible or yieldingcounteracting-diaphragm fitting over an opening in the case from thesaid supply-passage, and a pressure plate or post adapted to engage saidlever and counteracting-diaphragm to balance said valve and be actedupon in an opposite direction by the same pressure as that which acts onthe valve.

6. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith at the bottom andtop respectively, a flexible or yielding partition or diaphragm withinsaid case, a valve within said case over the passage from thesupply-pipe, a lever fulcrumed in said case and connected to said valve,a flexible or yielding counteracting-diaphragm fitting over an openingin the case from the supply-passage adapted to balance said valve andequal the pressure against the valve when acted upon by the samepressure, a hollow stem connected to said lever and passing through andsecured to said first-named partition or diaphragm to deliver theregulated fluid to the discharge-pipe at the top of the case, and aflexible or yielding packing-box connectedto the upper end of the hollowstem above the discharge-pipe.

7. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith at the bottom andtop respectively, a flexible or yielding partition or diaphragm withinsaid case, a valve within said case over the passage from thesupply-pipe, alever fulcrumed in said case and connected to said valve,a flexible or yielding counteracting-diaphragm fitting over an openingin the case from the supply-passage adapted to engage said lever tobalance said valve and equal the pressure against the valve when actedupon by the same pressure, a hollow stem passing through and connectedto said first-named partition or diaphragm to deliver the regulatedfluid to the discharge-pipe at the top of the case, a

flexible or yielding packing-box connected to the upper end of thehollow stem above the partition or diaphragm and below thedischarge-pipe, and a lever fulcrumed in the case and adapted to beconnected to said firstnamed lever and hollow stem.

8. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inelosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition ordiaphragrn within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow, a flexible or yielding counteracting-diaphragmwithin said case adapted to balance said valve and equal the pressureagainst the valve when acted upon by the same pressure, and connectionsfrom the first-named partition or diaphragm to the valve andcounteracting-diaphragm.

9. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosin g casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or inthedirection of the flow, a flexible or yielding counteracting-diaphragmwithin said case, and a stem or rod connected to the partition ordiaphragm, valve and counteractingdiaphragm, said counteractingdiaphragmadapted to balance said valve and equal the pressure against the valvewhen acted upon by the same pressure.

10. In a fluid-pressure regulator, the combination of an inclosing casehaving supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, a flexible oryielding partition or diaphragm within said case, a valve within saidcase over the passage from the supply-pipe opening with or in thedirection of the flow and connected bya lever fulcrumed in said case tothe said partition or diaphragm, a flexible or yieldingcounteracting-diaphragm within said case adapted to balance said valveand equal the pressure against the valve when acted upon by the samepressure, and a stem connected to said lever for carrying the valve andadapted to engage with the counteracting-diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I, the said SAMUEL E. ORAVVFORD, have hereunto setmy hand.

SAMUEL E. CRAWFORD.

\Vitnesses:

M. E. OoNNER, J. N. 3001112.

